THE BUFFALO, &c. 155 



5. The bonafus of Ariftotle is the fame ani- 

 mal with the bifon of the Latins. 



6. The bifon of America might proceed ori- 

 ginally from the European bifon. 



7. The tints or aurochs is the fame animal 

 with the common bull in its natural and wild 

 itate. 



8. The bifon differs from the aurochs by 

 accidental varieties only ; and, confequently, 

 it is, as well as the aurochs, of the fame fpecies 

 with the domeflic ox ; fo that I think I {hall be 

 able to reduce all the denominations, and all the 

 pretended fpecies both of ancient and modern 

 naturalifts, to three, namely, the ox, the buffalo, 

 and the bubal us. 



Some of the propofitions I am about to lay 

 down, will, I doubt not, appear to be mere af- 

 fertions, particularly to thofe who have been ac- 

 cuflomed to ftudy the nomenclators of animals, 

 or have attempted to give lifts of them. There 

 are none of thefe affertions, however, which I 

 am not able to prove. But, before entering in- 

 to critical difcuffions, each of which requires 

 particular propofitions, I fhall relate the facts and 

 remarks which led me into this refearch ; and, 

 as they have fatisfied myfelf, I hope they will be 

 equally fatisfa&ory to others. 



Domeflic animals differ, in many refpects, 

 from wild animals. Their nature, their fize, 

 and their form are more fluctuating, and fubjecl: 

 to greater changes, efpecially in the external 



parts 



